Reed for motor-horns and the like.



r E. TESTE. REED EOE MOTOR HORNS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 2B, 1908.

1,000,307; Patented Aug. s, 1911.

Fig. 1

b a C C Fig. 2 f A" b c Flg. 3. h f 1g 6,6

Wulff/e,

COLUMBIA PLANoGRAPn ca., WASHINGTON. x7A c.

UNITED STATES PATENTr OFFICE.

ETIENNE TESTE, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

REED FOR MOTOR-HORNS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aw. s, 11911.

Application lcd December 28, 1908. Seri-a1 No. 469,579.

motor and similar horns shall emit a full,

and resonant sound, that the reed shall be properly adjusted,A so that the flexible metallic tongue can vibrate in a normal manner. Hitherto this adjustment of the reed has presented considerable difficulty, owing tothe method adopted for mounting the flexible tongue on the shell arranged beneath it. The tongue has in fact either been soldered or lapped on tothe sleeve forming the extension of the shell. In the former case it frequently happens that the metal used in soldering finds its way between the flexible tongue and the shell with the result thatthe tongue becomes immovable for part of its length and is thereby prevented from vibrating properly. In the second case the end of the flexible tongue is fitted to the sleeve forming the extension of the shell, and is turned over by means of a suitable tool so as to apply itself against the inner wall of this sleeve and this turning up of the end of the tongue results in bending the metal which in consequence vibrates imperfectly. Furthermore when either of these two methods of attaching the flexible tongue is adopted the tongue cannot be detached and it is therefore almost impossible to clean the tongue and the sleeve.

The object of the present invention is to remedy these defects and it consists in providing a reed for motor horns and the like whereof the different parts can be detached with the greatest ease, either for cleaning purposes, or for restoring the curvature when damaged. This system of detachable reed is characterized essentially by the fact that the shell and the vibrating tongue are independent of one another and are held together by compression in the sleeve, the one end of which is provided with a semicircular opening corresponding to the section of the combined shell and tongue. This compression is effected by athreaded plug which screws inside the sleeve and presses on the assembled shell and tongue, said plug being provided with an aperture for the passage of air, and when unscrewed` allowing the reed to be detached. l

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l shows a side elevation and end views of the reed made in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a corresponding plan view ofthe same. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section along the line A-A of Fig. 2. Fig. l shows separately,

in side elevation and plan, the shell situated,

underneath the vibrating tongue. Fig. 5 is an elevation and plan of this tongue. Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section of the sleeve. Fig. 7 shows an end elevation and plan of a key iitting on the end of the flexible tongue. Fig. 8 shows the tightening plug in face View and profile. Fig. 9 is an elevation of a turnkey for screwing up and unscrewing the tightening plug. Fig. 10 illustrates a sectional view of a modification.

As can be seen from the drawing, the reed is composed, as usual, of a semi-cylindrical shell a one end of vwhich is open, while the other end is closed by arounded part, and of a flexible metallic tongue?) placed upon this shell. At a distance'of about half an inch from its open parts this shell is provided with a shoulder a1 (Fig. 4L). The flexible metallic tongue I) is also provided on each side with a shoulder b1 arranged at the end of said tongue (Fig. 5). The shell a and the tongue b are fitted into a sleeve c the one end of which is provided with a semicircular opening cl :for the admission of the shell and tongue. The size of this opening d is such that it forms, on the inside, a ledge e forming a point of support for the shoulder al of the shell a. The shoulders b1 of the tongue also find support against the ledge e of the sleeve c which is closed by a solid part c1.. The shell a and tongue Z) are kept in position in the sleeve c by a key 7)? which is hollow and of semi-circular shape,

the sleeve c. This sleeve is provided externally with a thread by means of which the reed can be firmly attached to the tube of the horn.

It is evident from the foregoing that the reed arranged inthismanner, can be detached with the greatest ease. For this purpose it is suiiicient to unscrevv the plug f by means of the turnkey g and then push the shell a; and vibrating tongue o inside the sleeve c. In this way the shell and tongue can be cleaned separately and the curvature of the tongue can be trued up if necessary. To. reitthe shell a and the tongue b, they are inserted into the sleeve c and pushed through the opening Z thereof. The key b2 is next placed above the tongue b and the -plug 7 is screwed into the sleeve c which plug, by pressing against the end of the shell a and the tongue forces the shoulders al and b1 of these latter against the ledge e. In addition to facilityaiforded for detaching and attaching, this arrangement allows the metallic tongue Z) to vibrate in a normalv manner, the vibration being set up along the whole length of the tongue, and thus giving the instrument a clear and powerful tone.

Fig. l0 of the drawing represents a'modiication in which the shell a, and the vibrating tongue b are placed before their insertion into the sleeve 0 in a metal socket z'. In this case the socket is provided at one end with a semi-circular opening into which the shell a and tongue b fit, these being held, as in the previous arrangement, by the shoulders a1 and b1. This socket is afterward inserted into the sleeve c which is open at both ends and is provided with an interna'l vshoulder o2 forming a point of support for the bottom of the socket. Both this latter and the shell a and vibrating tongue b are tightened in the sleeve c by means of the ythreaded plug fas described above.

' end of a reed formed of a shell and tongue,

each provided with shoulders at one end, the shouldered ends being in the sleeve, a key in the sleeve, and an apertured and externally screw threaded plug in the said sleeve.

3. The. combination with an interiorly threaded sleeve having a semi-circular opening in one end, forming shoulders therein, a reed formed of a shell and tongue, each provided with shoulders at one end, the shouldered ends of the shell and tongue being in the sleeve, a semi-circular key in the sleeve, and an eXtei'iorly threaded and apertured plug in the sleeve.

The foregoing specification of my improvements in reeds for motor horns and the like signed by me this 15th day of December 1908.

ETIENNE TESTE. Witnesses:

R. CHIRIOT, II. C. CoXE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. C.

Commissioner of Patents, 

